I Can Do Anything

Summary

Jeff, an overconfident stockbroker, embarks on a journey to cross the Sahara Desert despite his lack of preparation and expertise, driven by his unwavering belief in his ability to do anything.

Abstract

The narrative "I Can Do Anything" is a flash fiction piece that delves into the themes of hubris and absurdity through the character of Jeff, a stockbroker who is convinced of his invincibility. Despite warnings from his friend Sandy, who points out his lack of relevant skills and training, Jeff dismisses the need for expert advice, relying solely on his perceived willpower and past successes. His overconfidence leads him to undertake the perilous journey across the Sahara Desert with little more than a few cans of beans and an autobiography of Bear Grylls. The story ends with Jeff leaving to prove his capability, while Sandy is left to ponder the implications of living alone and Jeff's unlikely success. This tale serves as a prequel to another story by Eva MacInnes, suggesting a broader narrative exploring the consequences of Jeff's hubris.

Opinions

Jeff's character is portrayed as arrogant and overconfident, underestimating the dangers of crossing the Sahara Desert.
Sandy represents the voice of reason, expressing doubt and concern about Jeff's unpreparedness and lack of expertise.
The story implies that self-belief, while important, is not a substitute for proper training and knowledge when facing extreme challenges.
The author likely intends to satirize the human tendency to overestimate one's abilities and the potential consequences of such overconfidence.
By linking to a subsequent story, the author invites readers to explore a larger narrative that may further examine the outcomes of Jeff's actions.

A flash fiction story of hubris and absurdity

Jeff paused for a moment, one hand on a water bottle, the other on his backpack. “I can do it,” he said. “If anyone can cross the Sahara desert, I can.”

“But you’re a stockbroker,” said Sandy. “And you’ve done no training.”

He shrugged and chuckled, throwing in a couple of cans of beans and his beloved Bear Grylls autobiography. “I’ve never failed at anything yet. Never in my life.”

“But, wouldn’t some expert advice…”

He turned, scowling, then pointed to his temple. “Forget experts. It’s just a matter of psychology, Sandy. Willpower. That and a pair of legs.” He snorted at his own joke.

“But…”

He flicked a hand towards her face, walked to the door. “And clean this place while I’m gone, won’t you.”

“But…”

“Remember, I can do anything, Sandy. Anything.”

The door slammed.

“But can you do this?” she murmured, wondering what it was going to be like to live alone.

This was a response to TFWD’s November prompts. The prompt: Write a flash fiction story about a highly overconfident person who wants to prove that they can cross the desert. I thought it would be fun to make my story a kind of prequel to the one by Eva MacInnes, which you can find here:

Fiction | Prompt responses

I Can Do Anything

A flash fiction story of hubris and absurdity

Jeff’s Trek Through the Desert

It seemed like a good idea at the time…